By Alexys Aquino
I’m happy to report that humidity is universal, although sometimes it seems Texas has a monopoly on it! Along with the humidity, Panama has no shortage of lush greenery, kind strangers, and strong coffee. I had never been to Central America before this internship with International IDEA and UT Austin, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Now that I’ve been in Panama for over a month, I’ve started to get the hang of it all, from using the metro to navigating the temperamental elevators at the Electoral Tribunal. Despite all that I have learned, I’ve found that working in a multinational environment on topics as important as gender parity in Panamanian politics teaches you something new constantly.
Most of my work in Panama City is related to the participation of Panamanian women in politics. This fellowship program has been particularly special because each person in our UT cohort is working on a different project pertaining to democratic assistance in Panama and beyond; this always makes dinners more interesting since we get a chance to hear about everyone’s different experiences. My work with International IDEA has largely been in partnership with INED (Instituto de Estudios Democráticos del Tribunal Electoral de Panamá, or Institute of Democratic Studies of the Panamanian Electoral Tribunal). Another unique aspect of the experience is that International IDEA has offices inside Panama’s Electoral Tribunal. INED also has an office inside the building, allowing me to work with some of the Institute’s lead researchers on gender parity in Panamanian politics.
I’ve worked on several different assignments during my time at the tribunal, which in some way contribute to a publication called Atenea. Atenea is a report published by INED in collaboration with International IDEA and the United Nations Development Program, which was most recently published in 2021. The next publication is projected to be released in 2025, covering information for the upcoming 2024 national elections in Panama. Atenea discusses a wide range of topics pertaining to the acceleration of women’s political participation in Latin America with an emphasis on Panama. Using quantitative data, Panama is compared to other countries in the region on their progress toward gender parity in politics. Although several topics are addressed in Atenea, I have been focusing on the legal aspects of women in politics, specifically researching laws in place in Panama that contribute to the political advancement of women.
In order to fully grasp the rights and protections of women, I am researching which laws and treaties Panama has adopted to benefit women. More specifically, the investigation entails researching laws and constitutional mandates that call for political gender parity and a comprehensive law giving women access to a life free of violence. It has been incredibly interesting to see the range of approaches within a single region. Some countries have explicit laws or constitutional provisions stating that women have the right to a life free of violence, while others make little to no mention of women’s rights. The goal is to contribute to the data that will form part of the upcoming Atenea publication to better assess Panama’s progress in comparison to its peers.
As mentioned above, elections are coming up in Panama next spring, and several participating political parties have begun to hold primaries. The upcoming election makes the topic of gender parity that much more relevant as we are collecting data on the current primaries and the role of women in all aspects of these elections, ranging from the participation of female voters, their access to voting centers, and the inclusion of female candidates. The topic of female candidates is especially interesting in Panama as it is in many other countries with gender quotas that sometimes find themselves with legal loopholes allowing political parties to get away with including women as substitutes rather than as official candidates or a variety of other mechanisms that don’t contribute to long-term political gender parity.
I have really enjoyed the projects I’ve worked on here; it has been rewarding to see the various research efforts carried out by scholars in the field. As research fellows, we have had a first-hand experience visiting with many esteemed members of the democratic and electoral assistance community. One of these notable individuals was Dr. Flavia Freidenberg, who presented at the Electoral Tribunal in June. Her presentation on the importance of putting political parity to work in real life, not just on paper, was inspiring and reminds you of the impact that the work carried out by organizations like International IDEA can have on so many people. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play a small part in the process.
In addition to the many impressive scholars and contributors to the field we’ve had the chance to meet, we have also gotten the opportunity to visit beautiful historical landmarks in Panama. Each week we have gone on a field trip of sorts with several colleagues. We have been to Casco Viejo many times, which is a lovely area with cobblestone streets. These trips have included visits to the national library, the national archives, several museums, and memorials honoring those who lost their lives during the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989. And last but not least, I had the chance to visit the storied Panama Canal and the current training facility for the Canal’s personnel, which was once an American high school in the Canal zone during the U.S. administration. Seeing all these different places after coming from an American university has been particularly impactful considering the history of the U.S. and Panama.
And as with any experience abroad, there have also been many fun and chaotic moments that are a core part of my experience. Some of them I could have done without (like not having AC in part of my apartment while it’s 90 degrees outside); others have been unexpectedly amazing (like getting lost in a small town in the mountains and walking down a gorgeous street lined with beautiful flowers) but all of them given me fun memories that I’ll treasure for many years to come. Panama has so many stunning landscapes, some of which I have had the chance to see. I visited San Blas, a sandy island with some of the clearest water I’ve seen, and El Valle de Antón— a sleepy and idyllic town in the mountains. I got to go to both places with my cohort, who have become one of my favorite parts of this experience.
There is nothing quite like being in a new place doing important work surrounded by the beauty of the Earth and great people. Panama City has a special place in my heart; I couldn’t have gotten here without the support of Dr. Moran and Dr. Elkins, who helped bring this program to life and give students a chance to have a hands-on experience in democratic assistance in a multicultural environment. A big thank you to Carlos, Roberto, and Katherine from International IDEA for supporting us in our endeavors, and for never failing us with food recommendations. It’s fair to say I have more than enjoyed my time here, and I’m excited to see what the remainder of my time in Panama holds!
